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Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who ranks third in the NFL in completion percentage, was on target again Wednesday when asked about Aldon Smith’s potential workload this week.

“We plan to see a lot of him,” Brees said.

Sure enough, it appears Smith will receive substantially more playing time Sunday after he had a puny role last week. In his return from a five-game absence, Smith played just 12 snaps in a 10-9 loss to Carolina.

“I think he’s ready this week to get back to playing a lot,” 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said today. “And he’ll play a lot this week.”

Fangio said the 49ers planned to give Smith more than 12 snaps last week, but he didn’t have many opportunities to enter the game as pass-rushing specialist once the Panthers took the lead early in the fourth quarter. Carolina ran on eight of their final 11 offensive plays.

“He would have played more last week if the game had been a little different,” Fangio said.

Fangio didn’t say if Smith would reassume his starting spot at right outside linebacker. Dan Skuta, who has started in Smith’s spot for past six games, said he will play Sunday despite sustaining a foot injury against the Panthers. Skuta sported a walking boot on his left foot Tuesday and was limited in practice Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Fangio said defensive tackle Ray McDonald, who sustained a high ankle sprain against the Panthers, was “iffy” to play against the Saints despite making “a lot of progress” this week. On Wednesday, McDonald sounded pessimistic about his chances of playing.